CECS Newsletter 7 for AY 2009/10

March 01 2010

by Dr. Alvaro Monge

Students who expect to complete all degree requirements in Fall 2010 should file a request to graduate. Students should first see their advisor to review their degree progress. The deadline to file the request to graduate is March 1. You may still file after this date by paying a late fee. Additional information about filing to graduate can be found in the University's page on Bachelor's Degrees Requirements and Details. The page includes a link to the forms that must be completed and filed.

Tutoring in CECS classes continues to be held on Fridays in the department. The tutoring sessions are free and are sponsored by the Learning Assistance Center. Tutoring takes place in ECS 403 from 11:00am to 3:00 p.m and is available for CECS 110, 174, 201, 274, 277, 262, and 282.

CSULB participates in the MSDN Academic Alliance Program which provides Microsoft products at no cost. In order to do so, CECS students need a MSDNAA account which can be obtained by contacting Rick Meza as instructed.

• Want a Job? Get a Computer Science Degree: Leading universities are reporting that enrollment in computer science and engineering is up significantly this year as students discover computer-related degrees offer better job prospects and earnings potential.
• Truly random numbers: A new approach to generating truly random numbers could lead to improved Internet security and better weather forecasts, according to researchers writing in the International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems. German researchers have developed a random number generator that uses a computer memory element, a flip-flop, to create an extra layer of randomness.
• Making Computer Science More Enticing: Employment at the top 10 Silicon Valley companies declined for Hispanics, blacks, and women for the decade ending in 2005, according to a San Jose Mercury News review of federal data. And after the technology bust in the early 2000s, overall enrollment in computer science programs nationwide fell. Stanford University professor Mehran Sahami responded by revamping the computer science department's curriculum to make it more appealing to students. Stanford consolidated the number of required courses, allowed students to specialize in subfields such as artificial intelligence, and began to count classes such as human computer interaction toward computer science requirements. Enrollment rose 40 percent in the first year, and continued with another 20 percent increase this year.
• China Leads the World in Hacked Computers, McAfee Study Says: Hackers hijacked more private computers in China in the last quarter of 2009 than in any other country, according to a new McAfee report. About 1.1 million Chinese computers and 1.06 million U.S. computers were infected with malware that turned the compromised systems into “zombies,” which are often grouped into botnets that are used to attack Web sites or send spam.
• NYTimes: The Dozens of Computers That Make Modern Cars Go (and Stop): NYTimes article: “The electronic systems in modern cars and trucks are packed with up to 100 million lines of computer code, more than in some jet fighters.”
• NYTimes: U.S. Scientists Given Access to Cloud Computing : NYTimes article: The National Science Foundation and the Microsoft Corporation have agreed to offer American scientific researchers free access to the company's new cloud computing service.
• NYTimes: Google Asks Spy Agency for Help With Inquiry Into Cyberattacks : Google has turned to the National Security Agency for technical assistance to learn more about the computer network attackers who breached the company's cybersecurity defenses last year.

The International Summer University returns to Switzerland this upcoming July 2010. The program be four weeks from July 5 to July 30. Dr. Alvaro Monge is the point of contact for CSULB students.

In the past three summers, a total of twenty nine CSULB students have participated in the International Summer University in Computer Science. This summer program brings students and faculty from US Universities together with students and faculty from HEIG-VD, a University in Switzerland. The program once again returns to its sponsor at the campus of HEIG-VD near the city of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Interested CSULB students should visit the 2010 International Summer University web site which includes the application that must be completed and submitted by Friday March 19.

USC's Institute for Creative Technologies is a recognized leader in fundamental research in virtual humans. These are artificially intelligent programs that control (typically graphical) bodies and that are able to communicate with people through both verbal and nonverbal means.

ICT is seeking a programmer analyst II with a solid understanding of general software engineering principles and distributed architectures. The successful candidate will work with a wide range of virtual human systems by combining the various research efforts within USC and ICT into a general Virtual Humans Architecture.

The Programmer Analyst II develops software applications using programming languages to the given design specifications. Follows design specifications to code, test, debug, install, document, and maintain software applications. Develops new and enhanced functionality for software applications. Prepares code documentation in support of program development. Performs work of moderate complexity and handles most activities under general supervision of more experienced programming staff.

Complete information about this position is available at USC's Employee Recruitment Services website.

The College of Engineering Scholarships web page lists a number of different scholarships available to students studying in an Engineering field. The deadline to apply to these scholarships is April 8th, so don't delay and apply early!

CSULB also has a Center for Scholarship Information that provides a search engine where students can find other funding opportunities.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at University of Texas at Arlington has several fellowships for qualified students to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering department. These prestigious GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) fellowships are provided by a grant awarded to the department by the U.S. Department of Education . Each of our GAANN fellows receives a generous stipend (up to $24,000 per calendar year, depending on individual need as determined by the FAFSA application ) plus educational expenses to cover tuition, fees, and certain other expenses.

For more information, visit UT Arlington's page on the GAANN fellowship.

The NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs are back.

An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

You can search for an REU site to learn about the programs available this coming summer. Here are some of the local REU sites:

• Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA
• UCLA
• USC
• UC Santa Cruz
• UC Berkeley
• University of Houston REU program on Sensor Networks and Security Infrastructure
• The University of Alabama REU program in Software Language Engineering
• TRUST: REU in Cyber Security and Trustworthy Systems at multiple locations: UC Berkeley, Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University

These are just some of the REU sites in the state and ones that I've been notified about. There are dozens of other opportunities if you're willing to travel to another state!

The federal government is aggressively seeking new talent. Two hundred and fifty thousand jobs are expected to open up during the next five years as fifty percent of the current federal workforce will be eligible to retire. As a result, internships with the federal government give students a great opportunity to test-drive careers with, and to have their skills seen by, the world's largest employer. In fact, many of our interns are offered full-time positions with the federal government upon graduation.

Federal agencies are looking for a multitude of skill-sets. Priority majors include engineering, business, accounting, finance, computer science, information technology, mathematics and statistics, but applicants from all academic backgrounds are welcomed. Agencies are also looking to increase the diversity within their workforces, so students from diverse backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

For more information visit The Washington Center's Competitive Government Programs website. The final deadline to submit applications for the Summer Term is March 1st, 2010